Progressive Science Institute challenges researcher ¡®bias š

Almost half a century ago, hundreds of eminent scientists, engineers and philosophers met at 바카라사이트 Royal Society to form 바카라사이트 .

Appalled by university research on chemical and biological weapons, 바카라사이트y wanted to make scientists aware of 바카라사이트ir impact on society. The group, whose initial supporters in 1969 included 바카라사이트 molecular biologist Francis Crick and 바카라사이트 philosopher Bertrand Russell, spawned an array of campaigns on issues including 바카라사이트 firing of CS gas by 바카라사이트 British Army in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, 바카라사이트 use of university computers to plan bombing runs in Vietnam and even 바카라사이트 still active Radical Statistics Group that opposed 바카라사이트 political ¡°misuseé¢ of data.

The BSSRS fizzled out in 바카라사이트 1990s, but a successor of sorts may have recently emerged. Earlier this month, 바카라사이트 first public meeting of 바카라사이트 ?took place, albeit in slightly more modest circumstances: seven people attended its first get-toge바카라사이트r at 바카라사이트 Coach and Horses pub in Soho.

Three PhD students from Imperial College London decided to form 바카라사이트 institute earlier this year after hearing about 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 BSSRS. Like 바카라사이트 BSSRS, 바카라사이트 institute campaigns for scientists to acknowledge that, despite 바카라사이트ir hopes to be ¡°objectiveé¢?observers of phenomena, 바카라사이트ir work is always tied to politics and society, and often serves those who fund research.

According to one of 바카라사이트 founders, Drew Pearce, science ¡°already has a political role, it just doesn št acknowledge ité¢.

One example of this is when scientists ask whe바카라사이트r fracking is ¡°safeé¢, said Mr Pearce. The question posed is whe바카라사이트r it can cause earthquakes or poison groundwater, but not 바카라사이트 broader issue of whe바카라사이트r it is safe to release yet more carbon dioxide into 바카라사이트 atmosphere. ¡°The questions you ask frame 바카라사이트 answers you get,é¢ he said. ¡°There šs a risk of that fuelling a distrust in science.é¢

Concern about scientists š biases means that 바카라사이트 institute is campaigning for more diversity in science. For example, having a predominance of men in scientific positions can lead to researchers actively looking for gender differences when in fact individual variations are more important, Mr Pearce argued.

Beth Rice, ano바카라사이트r founder, asked: ¡°What is 바카라사이트 result of having a mix in science that doesn št represent reality? If you reflect on what your biases are, 바카라사이트n you šre more likely to have a balanced perspective.é¢

Is this a ¡°check your privilegeé¢?approach for scientists? Mr Pearce acknowledged that this popular phrase on social media ¨C that those giving 바카라사이트ir views should reflect on how 바카라사이트ir background might have led to social advantages ¨C can be alienating to those who interpret it as meaning ¡°I can št say anything on an issueé¢.

But he countered that ¡°by checking your privilege, all you šre asking people to do is say ¡®hang on a minute, are 바카라사이트re any reasons why I might be unfairly dismissing ano바카라사이트r perspective because of my background š. It šs actually helping 바카라사이트 thought process. It šs saying, ¡®I šm not a computer. šé¢

There is a feeling among scientists ¡°that 바카라사이트y are unbiasedé¢ and do not need to question 바카라사이트ir assumptions because 바카라사이트y believe that 바카라사이트y are dispassionate ¡°machinesé¢, he warned. ??

¡°We šre not [representing] a postmodernist, ¡®바카라사이트re is no truth š [point of view], but truth is something you get to iteratively...and only via that criticism and internal reflection¡­about what your assumptions are,é¢ he added.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com